Starching-machine.



' Patented Feb. 20, I900. T. B. GIFFEN 8:. J. BISSETT.

STARCHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 18, 1897.)

(N o M o d e l 4 Sheets--Sheet I.

g 6 WITNESSES.

Tu: ncnnls PETERS cu, PnoTn-uma. WASHINGTON, 0. q,

No. 643,765. Patented Feb. 20, I900. T. B. GIFFEN 81.11. BISSETT.

'STARCHING mums.

(Application filed Sept. 18, 1897.)

(No Model.) 4 Shasta-*Shaat 2,

WITN ESSES.

INVENTORS.

No. 643,765. Patented Feb. 20, I900. T. B. GIFFEN 8|. J. BISSETT.

STARCHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 18, 1897.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3,

. -l w WITNESSES. 8 INVENTORS;

THE NORRIS PETEns cm. moromwo" WASHINGTON, n c

,765. Patented Feb. 20,1900.

T. B. GIFFEN &. J. BISSETT. STARCHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 18, 1897.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Shaet 4.

VYITN ESSES. INVENTORQ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS BOLTON GIFFEN AND JOHN BISSETT, OF RUTHERGLEN, SCOTLAND.

S'II'ARCHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 643,765, dated February 20, 1900.

' Application filed September 18,1897. Serial No. 652,152. on model.)

To etZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS BOLTON GIF- FEN and JOHN BIssETT, subjects of the Queen of Great Britain, and residents of Rutherglen, in the county of Lanark, Scotland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starching-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus more particularly for starching the fronts and cuffs of shirts and similar articles, also collars, cuffs, and shirt-fronts, though it may be applied to washing orother purposes for which it may be found applicable. It is designed to provide apparatus which will act upon the articles without subjecting them to a rubbing action or friction,and thus avoid wear and lengthen the life of such articles. It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation on line a: m, Fig. 3; Fig. 2, a longitudinal sectional elevation on line y y, Fig. 3; Fig. 3, a plan with cover removed; Fig. 4, a plan of cover and lid; Fig. 5, a sectional elevation of worm-gearing; Fig. 6, a detail of screw for holding on the cover; Fig. 7, a detail of front of box, showing the opening ct and panel B.

A water-tight box or receptacle A is constructed of cast-iron or'other suitable material,with an opening a in the front side to receive such parts of the articles as are to be treated. The opening a is closed by a sliding panel B, which closes down upon the articles which project therethrough and prevents the escape of liquor during the operation.

Inside the water-tight box A we fit several (preferably three) paddles or plungers O D, which receive a reciprocating or oscillating movement from any suitable source of motion. The paddles or plungers D when in operation approach to and recede from one another, alternately compressing or squeezing the clothes between them and then releasing them, thus causing them to rapidly absorb or become impregnated with the starch or other liquor.

The plunger or paddle C reciprocates to and fro, and its shank or outer end 0 passes through guideway E and is connected by the connecting-rod F, jointed to it by the pin f, to

the crank-pin g on the rotating disk G, by which the desired movement is imparted.

The plungers or paddles D are affixed to the rods or arms 01, which are pivoted on pins (1', screwed into the top and bottom of the box A, upon which they can oscillate to and fro. The rods (1 are connected to the reciprocating shank c of the plunger 0 by connecting-rods E, pivoted at one end to the shank'c and at the other end to the rods 01, whereby the reciprocating movement of the plunger or paddle 0 causes an oscillating movement of the plungers or paddles D, the paddles D approaching as the paddle C recedes.

The water-tight box A is inclosed with a cover H, held down by screws pivoted on the pins h and passing over or between the lugs h. The cover is provided with a lid K, hinged on a rod or spindle is. The lid K is also provided with a small circular lid L, which can be opened readily for the insertion of small articles, as collars and cuffs in nets, which are held in position bya circle of wire at their neck of a size slightly larger than the round hole. When such small articles are being done, the front opening a is entirely closed by a slide B. The box is also provided with a steam-chamber M to maintain the starch or other liquor at the desired temperature. The crank-disk G, rigidly mounted on the shaft n, is provided with the upper member of a clutch N, by which it can be'thrown into and out ofgear, as may be required to start or stop the machine. The lower part of the clutch is fixed to and carried by a sleeve 01, loose upon the shaft n, and the lower member of the clutch is rotated by the worm-gear O.

The lower member of the clutch is raised into gear by the foot-lever P, operating through the forked lever 19, and when the foot-lever P is released it falls out of gear again by its own weight.

When the apparatus is in operation, the box A is filled nearly up to the bottom of the opening a with the starch or'otherliquor. The parts of the articles to be treated are introduced through the opening a, and the sliding panel B is closed down upon them. By depressing the foot-lever P the clutch is thrown into gear and the plunger or paddle C is set in motion and alternately compresses the articles against the front side of the boX and releases them. The connection between the plunger or paddle C and the oscillating paddles D is such that the forward movement of plunger Ccauses the paddles D to recede, and the backward movement of plunger C causes them to approach, so that the paddles D compress or squeeze the articles alternately with the plunger or paddle O and in a direction at right angles thereto and at the same time without rubbing them.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is

1. In apparatus for starchin g shi rts or other articles the combination with a water-tight receiver A provided with an opening adown one side through which the clothes project, of a sliding panel B, a reciprocating paddle 0, two oscillating paddles D, and connectingrods d and E by which they are connected to the shank of the paddle O, substantially as described.

2. In apparatus for starching shirts and other articles, the combination ofa watertight receiver A provided with an opening 0, down one side through which the clothes project, asliding panel B to close the opening, a reciprocating paddle O and two oscillating paddles D in the interior of the receiver A, connectingrods d and E by which the paddles D are connected to the shank of the paddle (J, the crank-disk G rigidly mounted on the shaft n to operate the paddles, a clutch N, the movable sleeve 12, and the levers P and p for placing the two members of the clutch in gear, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 3d day of September, 1897.

THOMAS BOLTON GIFFEN. JOHN BISSETT.

Witnesses:

GEO. GRAY, J12, ARCHD. HEWITT. 

